Shivam Dhar, '19 MCS

My Sun Devil Journey: A Story from Tempe to Triumph

From the moment I landed in Phoenix, I knew something special was about to begin. Biking through every road of my college town, Tempe, soaking in the energy of ASU, and making the climb up 'A' Mountain each semester - every experience, from orientation at Gammage to late-night project meetings at Brickyard and Noble, was a memory in the making. I immersed myself in student life: competing in hackathons, spending hours in server rooms parsing huge datasets, playing in-class CTFs, and conducting user research across diverse groups. Celebrating small wins with friends over meals at Cornish Pasty and Oregano’s, and turning routine grocery runs to Safeway and Walmart into mini adventures, made the experience all the more unforgettable. I explored the vibrant scenes of downtown Phoenix, Glendale and Scottsdale, hiked the Camelback Mountain, skied down Humphrey’s Peak, and took long, soul-refreshing walks along Tempe Beach Park with my friends - who have been my constant support during my time at ASU. Academically, I pushed my limits - running machine learning models till 3am in the morning, publishing a research paper with mentors from the ASU DMML Lab, and interning as a researcher with the W. P. Carey School of Business, all while juggling household chores and everyday life. From walking down the South Mill Ave on Halloweens to celebrating Diwali - I found joy in every season! Whether it was beating the Arizona heat with fresh coconut water or grabbing boba with friends, each moment added flavor to my time at ASU. Being an International Student Ambassador was the cherry on top, allowing me to give back and guide new Sun Devils on their journey. ASU was more than a university - it was a launchpad for dreams, a space to build lifelong friendships, and a community that constantly inspired me to aim higher. A big thank you to everyone who was a part of this journey. You made ASU feel like home. Forks up, always. 🔱